Mining machine transport truck



Aug. ze, 1941. J, F, Joy 2,254,104

I MINING MACHINE TRANSPORT TRUCK Filed Oct. 18, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l @WMI/hamm l 'g2/12g Aug. 26, 1941. n J. F. JOY 2,254,104

lMINING MACHINE TRANSPORT TRUCK i Filed Oct. 18, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented A-ug. 2'6, 1941 MINING MACHINE TRANSPORT TRUCK l Joseph F. Joy, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 18, 1938, Serial No. 235,684

Claims.

This invention relates to mining machine transport trucks adapted for transporting coal cutting machines in mines and relates more particularly to an improved mining machine transport truck of the rubber-tired type especially adapted to use in trackless mines.

'An object of this invention is to provide an improved transport truck for a coal cutting machine. A further object is to provide an improved mining machine transport truck of the wheel-mounted, rubber-tired type especially designed for use in trackless mines. A further object is to provide an improved wheel-mounted transport truck adaptable to transport a. coal cutting machine directly on the mine floor wholly without the use of guiding track rails. `Yet another object is to provide an improved mining machine' transport truck for transporting a. coal cutting 'machine of the iiexibly fed, floor cutter type adapted to rest upon its own bottom and slide in any direction over the mine iioor both during maneuvering of the machine with respect to the coal face and the cutting operation, the improved transport truck adapted to receive the coal cutting machine for transport from one working place to another about the mine. A'still further object is to provide an improved transport truck of the Wheel-mounted, rubber-tired type adapted to move directly over the mine floor wholly without the use of a guiding mine trackway, and having an improved wheel mounting structure whereby the machine may be propelled and steered in an improved manner. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration 'one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of atransport truck constructed in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the port truck shown in Fig. 1.

`Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinally extending vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 1. p

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinally extending vertical sectional view taken substantially on trans- -line 5--5 of Figui.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical sec- 55 in the art.

tional view taken substantially on line 6 6 oi Fig. 1. f v

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention, the improvedtrahsport truck, generally deslgnated I, is adapted to receive a coal cutting machine for transport about the mine, and While it may be employed for transporting coal cutting machines of various types, it is especially adapted to transport a coal cutting machine of the type disclosed in the patent to Joseph F. Joy and Leon E. Simmons, No. 2,131,178, patented September 27, 1938. The improved transport truck I comprises a truck frame 2 having, parallel side frame members 3, 3 providing parallel guideways along which the bottom of a coal cutting machine is adapted to slide during loading and unloading of the machine with respect to the truck. Pivotally mounted at l at the forward ends of these side frame members 3, 3 is a front loading and unloading pan or ramp 5 having a. front nose 6 adapted to rest on the mine floor during the loading or unloading operation. This machine guiding pan or ramp has a rearwardly projecting lever arm portion l slidingly engageable by the bottom of' the coal cutting machine during the loading operation so that as the machine is loaded onto the parallel side frames 3, 3 of the truck, the weight of the machine, passing over the lever portion 1, automatically effects raising of the pan 5 into its elevated transport position k nectible in different relations to these hooks or abutments during the loading or unloading operation, in the manner well known to those skilled Secured to and projecting laterally from the opposite sides of the truck frame', near the forward ends of the side frame members 3,' 3, are rigid axle frames 8, 8 having stub axles on which a 'pair of front traction wheels 8 are journaled. These wheels are provided with pneumatic tires of the conventional automotive type,

adapted to run directly over the mine oor wholly without the use of a guiding trackway. Secured to the rear end of the truck frame is a rigid frame iI having located at the longitudinal vertical center of the truck a longitudinal swivel portion I2 journaled in a bearing sleeve I3 supported within a transverse equalizer bar or pivoted axle I4. Swivelled at l5 on vertical axes at the opposite ends of the equalizer bar or, pivoted axle I4 are frames I6 of rear caster wheels I1.. These caster wheels likewise have pneumatic tires of the conventional automotive type. It will thus be seen that the equalizer -bar or pivoted axle I4 may swing in transverse vertical planes about an axis extending longitudinally of the truck and that the casterv wheels may swivel in any direction about vertical axes with respect to the pivoted axle, thereby to facilitate guiding and steering of the machine in an obvious manner.' Mounted on the rearward portion of the truck frame is a motor I9, herein preferably of the electric type, having fixedto the forward end of its horizontal power shaft 20 a bevel gear 2|. This bevel gear meshes with reverse bevels 22 and 23 journaled on bearings supported by a transverse shaft 24 in turn suitably iournaled in a gear housing 25 mounted on the truck frame in advance of the motor. These reverse bevels 22 and 23 are selectively connectible by a sliding jaw clutch 26 to the shaft 24. This jaw clutch has suitable operatingmeans including an oeprating handle 21 located at the top of the gear housing. Keyed to and driven by the shaft 24 is a spur gear 28 meshing with aspur gear 29 having its oppositely extending hub portions suitably journaled within bearings supported within the gear housing.

' Enclosed within one of the gear hubs is a conventional diierential mechanism 30 of the conventional automotive type. This differential mechanism comprises a plurality oi planet gears 3| meshing with bevel gears 32 and 33 'secured to relatively rotatable shafts 34 and 35, respectively. These shafts are arranged in axial alinement and are suitably journaled within the gear housing 25 and have secured thereto, at'their remote ends, chain 4sprockets 36 connected byv endless drive chains 31 to chainsprockets 38 secured to the hubs of the front traction wheels 9. Keyed to the hubs of the chain sprockets 36 are brake drums 39 having cooperating therewith conventional brake bands 48. The operating means for these brake bands comprises operating shafts 4I and 42 arranged in axial alinement and suitably rotatably mounted within the lower portion of the truck frame, and these operating shafts are provided with operating handles 43 and 44, respectively, and are connected through suitable toggle link operating means 45 and 48 to their rev spective brake bands. Itwill thus be seen that the brakes for the sprockets 36 may be either independently or simultaneously operated by the levers 43 and 44. Located at the rear end of the truck frame is a conventional controller box 41 having associated therewith a suitable con- 28, 29, the diiferential mechanism 30, shafts 34, 33, chain sprockets 38, drive .chains 31 and chain sprockets 33 secured to the wheels; and upon control of the brake bands 48 and through the differential mechanism, the front traction wheels may be independently driven at diierent speeds, thereby to eiiect steering of the machine. By the control of the reversing clutch 28, the direction of drive of the front traction wheels 9 may be controlled so that the truck may be propelled by the traction wheels either forwardly or rearwardly over the mine floor.y During the propelling of the truck about the mine, the swivel caster wheels I1 supporting the rear end of the truck facilitate negotiation of the truck through the sharply curved passages of a mine and over an uneven mine floor, and these caster wheels aid l the front traction wheels in the steering oi' the machine.

It will be evident that when the shaft 34 is heldagainst rotation by its brake band, the shaft 35 may be driven through the ldifferential mechanism so that one of the front traction A wheels is driven while thev other remains stationary, and as a result the truck may be slued about the stationary traction wheel as a pivot, and by independently controlling the drives of the front traction wheels, the transport truck may be turned in one direction or the other, as desired, in' a well known manner. During unloading of the coal cutting machine from the truck, the machine, moves forwardly from its guideways on the truck frame, and when the machine passes its center of gravity on the ramp 3, thelatter' tilts downwardly to permit the jmahine to move of! from the truck onto the mine oor.

As a result of this invention, it will be noted that an improved transport truck for a coal cut.- ting machine is provided whereby the machine may be transported from one working place to another in an improved manner. It will further be noted that by providing the transport truck Y with traction and steering wheels oi the rubbersume in practice, it will be understood that this troller apparatus 48 provided with a control hany die 49, and this controlling apparatus 4is adapted to control the supply of -electricity to the motor I9, in a well known manner.

'I-'he mode of use of the improved transport truck will be clearly apparent from the description given. When the coal cutting machine to be transported is loaded in transport position on the transport truck, it is suitably locked against movement relative to the truck, and, of course, at that time the pan or ramp 5 is in its elevated transport position and held therein by means of the weight of the mining machine on the lever portion 1 thereof. When the motor i9 is running and one or the other of the reverse bevels 22, 23 is connected to the shaft 24, the front truck wheels 9 may be driven through the spur gearing form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims. 1

lWhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mining machine transport truck comprising, in combination. a horizontal truck frame provided with horizontal longitudinally extending guideways for slidably receiving a unitary mining machine for transport, a plurality of wheels for supporting said truck frame and all directly engaging the mine iloor, said wheels comprising a pair of front traction wheels located at the opposite sides of the forward portion of said truck frame and a pair of rear caster wheels located at the opposite sides of the rear end of the truck trama-means for freely swivelly mounting said caster wheels each about an upright axis and both about a longitudinal axis, and motor driven mechanism mounted on said truck frame for independently driving said fronttraction 'wheels whereby the truck may be propelled and steered thereby.

2. A mining machine transport truck comprising, in combination, a horizontal truck frame provided with horizontal longitudinally extending guideways for slidably receiving a unitary mining machine for transport, a plurality of wheels for supporting said truck frame and all1 directly engaging the mine o'or, said wheels comprising a pair oi' front traction wheelsiocated at the opposite sides of the forward portion of said truck frame and a pair of rear caster' wheels located at the opposite sides of the rear end ofthe truck frame, means for freely swivelly mounting said caster wheels including a member pelled and steered thereby.

3. A mining machine transport truck comprislng, incombination, a horizontal truck frame provided with horizontal longitudinally extending, guideways for slidably receiving a unitary mining machine for transport, a plurality of wheels for supporting said truck frame and all Adirectly engaging the mine iioor, said wheels comprising a pair of front traction wheels located at the opposite sides of the forward portion of said truck frame and a pair of rear caster wheels located at the opposite sides of the rear end of the truck frame, means for freely swivelly mounting said caster wheels including a transverse equalizerbar pivotaliy mounted to rock on a longitudinal axis located at the longitudinal vertical center of the truck at the rear end of said truck frame and swivelled caster wheel frames pivotally connected to the ends oi' said equalizer bar to swing about upright axes. and motor driven mechanism mounted on said truck frame for independently driving said front traction `wheels whereby the truck may be propelled and steered thereby.

, 4. A mining machine transport truck comprising, in combination, a low compact horizontal tively small diameterrearcasterrrheels located at the opposite sides'of thediruck frame rearwardly of the rear lend ci the truck ira-me, said wheels-being soarranged ywith respect to said guideways that the major portion of the weight of a mining machine thereon is received by the front traction wheels, meansv for freely swivelly mounting said caster wheels comprising a bracket secured to the rear end of said truck frame and' projecting rearwardly therefrom, a transverse equalizer bar pivotally connected to said bracket to rock on a longitudinal axis located at the longitudinal vertical center of the truck and swivelled caster wheel frames pivotally connected to the ends of said equalizer bar to swing freely about upright axes, and motor driven mechanism mounted on said truck and operatively connected to said front traction wheels for independently driving the latter whereby the truck may be propelled and steered thereby, said caster wheels cooperating with said traction wheels to facilitate sharp turning of the truck.

5. A mining transport truck comprising, in combination, a low compact horizontal truck frame provided with horizontal, longitudinally extendingguideways for slidably receiving a unitary mining machine for transport, said truck frame projecting rearwardly a substantial distance with respect to said machine guideways to provide a platform located rearwardly `of a machine supported on said guideways, a plurality' of wheels for supporting said ltruck frame and all directly engaging the mine floor, said wheels comprising a pair ofrelatively large diameter front traction wheels located at the opposite sides of the forward portion of said truck frame lrearwardly of the forward ends of said l machine-receiving guideways and a .pair of relatively small diameter rear caster wheels located at the opposite sides of the truck frame rearwardly of the rear end of said rearwardly extending platform-providing portion of said truck frame,'said wheels being so arranged with respect to said guideways that the major portion of the weight of a mining machine thereon is received by the front traction wheels, means for freely swivelly mounting said caster wheels comprising a bracket projecting rearwardly from the rear end of said truck at the rear oi' said plattruck frame provided with horizontal, longitudinally extending guldeways for slidaiily receiving a unitary mining machine for transport, said truck frame projecting rearwardly a substantial distance with respect to said machine guideways, a plurality of wheels for supporting said truck frame and all directly engaging the mine door. said wheels comprising a pair of relatively alrge diameter front traction wheels located at the opposite sides of the forward portion ofthe truck' frame rearwardly of the forward ends of said machine-receiving guideways and a pair of relaform-providing portion thereof, a transverse equalizer bar pivotally connected to said bracket to rock on a longitudinal axis located at the iongitudinal vertical center ofthe truck and swivelled caster wheel frames pivotally connected i to the ends of said equalizer bar to swing freely about upright axes, and motor driven mechanism mounted on said platform-providing portion of saidv truck rearwardly of said machine-receiving guideways and operatively connected to said front traction wheels for independently driving they latter whereby the truck maybe propelled and steered thereby, said caster wheels cooperating with said traction wheels to facilitate sharp turning oi the truck. Y

i a JOSEPH, F. JOY. 

